72 Movie Couples Whose Sexual Tension Was So Believable, They Deserve, Like, An Award Or Something
Over the past couple of years, we've asked our BuzzFeed Community to tell us which actors they believe have had the most scintillating, jaw-dropping, awardworthy chemistry onscreen, and they've come through time and time again with some truly marvelous answers!
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So — with that in mind and presented in no particular order — here are the most popular responses we've received, all in one place for easy access. Ready? I sure hope so! Here we go:
1.Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in Pride and Prejudice (2005)
"There's only one right answer. Every time they're onscreen together, it's so full of chemistry, it might explode. Their dances, their fights, their looks of longing...the scene where they're standing in the pavilion in the rain is pure sexual tension. I’ve never seen two actors have chemistry like that."
2.Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia in The Addams Family (1991)
"They fit together like puzzle pieces, and the actors playing them flowed together so well, almost nothing could stop their rhythm. I'm so sad that Raul died before they were able to film a third movie."
3.Eva Mendes and Will Smith in Hitch (2005)
"I always thought they were adorable together, and incredibly believable."
4.Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix series
"Duh."
5.Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in Carol (2015)
"This was literally one of the best onscreen relationships I'd EVER seen."
6.Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy
"AMAZING! I love it!"
—Mona Fiéry, Facebook
7.Lily James and Richard Madden in Cinderella (2015)
"A personal favorite of mine. They get me every time!"
—Stacey Louise, Facebook
8.Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
"There's a reason they've been romantic leads in multiple films together. They're on fire in literally anything together!"
9.Whoopi Goldberg and Ray Liotta in Corrina, Corrina (1994)
"I’m sure most people won’t think of this movie, but I still believe it’s one of the sweetest, best rom-coms of all time, and their chemistry was perfect."
10.Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott in Ever After (1998)
"My all-time favorite movie, and my all-time favorite movie couple!"
—Elizabeth Ashley Oestreich, Facebook
11.Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard (1992)
"A fragile Whitney Houston and a protective Kevin Costner? Perfection."
—Nova Iva, Facebook
12.Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Australia (2008)
"There's a scene at the end of the movie where the two of them reunite, and it truly felt like they were in love. It was a beautiful movie made even better by their electric chemistry!"
13.Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker in Something New (2006)
"I may be gay, but my god, the chemistry in that movie between the two of them was 🔥🔥🔥."
—Shelsea Stephenson, Facebook
14.Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
"In all three movies, frankly. You just wanted them to live happily together forever and ever, no matter what!"
15.Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke in the Before trilogy
"They are my favorite onscreen couple of all time. Their chemistry was so natural and effortless."
16.Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
"A bit of a throwback, but they were great in it."
—Annie Marks, Facebook
17.Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing (1987)
"Their chemistry was believable; you couldn’t even tell they actually hated each other in real life!"
18.Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer (1998)
"In ALL of their movies, but especially this one!"
19.Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro (1998)
"The electricity was literally crackling between them!"
20.Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman (1990)
"They had natural chemistry. Go watch the scene where he shows her the necklace and closes the box on her fingers — it was meant to be a blooper, but they were so cute that they left it in the movie!"
21.Tessa Thompson and Michael B. Jordan in Creed (2015)
"Such a beautiful, realistic couple. They should've given them some kind of award for sure!"
22.Robin Wright and Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride (1987)
"I know the movie itself is a little goofy, but the chemistry between them was so pure and sweet."
23.Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci in Julie & Julia (2009)
"I truly believe they are marriage goals."
—Sydney Kenning, Facebook
24.Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
"Great writing and perfect casting."
—Cat Girard, Facebook
25.Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956)
"It’s a classic, and the sexual tension between them — especially in the song 'Shall We Dance' — was fantastic."
26.Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in The Notebook (2004)
"People STILL want them to be together in real life to this day, all these years later!"
27.Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson in Indecent Proposal (1993)
"I die a little bit every time I watch this movie because their chemistry was SO good!"
28.Zoe Saldana and Chris Pine in Star Trek (2009)
"I mean, I loved her with Spock, but I really felt she had more heat with the captain."
29.Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
"I felt that their chemistry was sizzling."
—Chanelle Blick, Facebook
30.Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge! (2001)
"They truly had some of the best romantic chemistry I have ever seen in my life!"
—gs23
31.Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford in The Way We Were (1973)
"Iconic."
—Linda Leciejewski, Facebook
32.Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic (1997)
"It's a classic, and their chemistry is undeniably good. Whenever you see the both of them onscreen, you believe in their love. Especially when Rose got off the lifeboat and Jack rushed to her and said how stupid she was for getting off the boat. I was like, 'Oh, this is real.' From start to finish, their connection was just so genuine."
33.Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
"I mean, honestly, any film with those two was an instant classic!"
34.Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in Atonement (2007)
"When I first watched this movie, I began to wonder if they actually did fall in love in real life!"
35.Karen Allen and Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
"Their love/hate relationship was so authentic, and you could easily imagine how passionate their relationship must have been all those years ago. Indy’s romantic entanglements in the other films couldn’t hold a candle to Marion."
36.Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet (1996)
"They deserve an Academy Award, simply because they managed to act so believably as teens in love, even though they hated each other in real life!"
—Annariina Hietanen, Facebook
37.Morena Baccarin and Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool (2016)
"Like Wade (Reynolds) says in the movie, 'Your crazy matches my crazy.' The two of them were meant for those roles, and I firmly believe they're the only two people who could've played them."
38.Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster in From Here to Eternity (1953)
"That kissing scene at the beach was just magical."
—Ana Stojic, Facebook
39.Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born (2018)
"Even in their multiple live performances of 'Shallow,' their chemistry is undeniable."
40.Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman in While You Were Sleeping (1995)
"You were rooting for them to be together right from the start. Pullman was adorable and, up until this movie, he was always the guy who lost the girl in the movies he was in. This time he got her in the end. Also, this wasn't Bullock's first movie, but it was the first real blockbuster with her in the lead!"
41.Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
"I know it's an older movie, but that phone scene? It makes me melt every single time."
42.Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan in The Last Five Years (2014)
"They’re just so in love — it rips my heart out every time!"
43.Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain (2005)
"That kiss?! PERIOD."
44.Kate Winslet and Jack Black in The Holiday (2006)
"One of the most believable, cutest couples ever!"
—Jennifer Chandler, Facebook
45.Lana Condor and Noah Centineo in To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018)
"They have such a beautiful friendship offscreen that many of us can only dream of. Everyone loved this movie because their chemistry is so intense and well displayed!"
46.Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender in The Light Between Oceans (2016)
"Hands down! This was the first movie where I felt like the romance was 100% real. Not only the chemistry, but the genuine love just transcended the screen and grabbed my heart, too. I wasn’t shocked at all when I read that they fell in love while filming this movie and have been happily married since."
47.Margot Robbie and Alexander Skarsgard in The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
"Even though they were apart for most of the movie, the scenes they did have together were AMAZING."
48.Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow (2005)
"And they took all the chemistry they had in that movie and moved it right on over to Empire!"
—Mallory O'Neill, Facebook
49.Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
"It was pure electricity."
50.Juliette Lewis and Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers (1994)
"The psychotic king and queen of movie couple chemistry. Everything about their performances were Oscar-worthy."
—Andrea Huber-Murphy, Facebook
51.Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
"STAY WITH ME. Way before Pine catapulted to stardom in Star Trek, I thought Hathaway had heart-fluttering chemistry with the blazing blue-eyed newcomer cast as her mischievous suitor. Whether they were spewing witty zingers at each other on a palace stairwell or falling head over heels into a fountain, Princess Mia and Lord Nicholas still light up the screen every time I revisit this joy of a rom-com."
52.Lucy Boynton and Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
"They were so cute and believable, and the actors are dating in real life!"
53.Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps in Love & Basketball (2000)
"Their chemistry was amazing, and I think they were together in real life for a little while after? I wouldn't be surprised!"
54.Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music (1965)
"They basically invented onscreen chemistry. Just watch them dance the Laendler. It exudes sexual tension."
55.Kate Winslet and Idris Elba in The Mountain Between Us (2017)
"One of my favorite movies. They are both amazing actors, and they captured something special in this film."
—Marnika Stander, Facebook
56.Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader in Secretary (2002)
"Hot damn!"
—Rachelle Betti-Bailey, Facebook
57.Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya in Queen & Slim (2019)
"Their chemistry was absolutely incredible, and it's what made the film unforgettable."
58.Julia Ormand and Richard Gere in First Knight (1995)
"That first kiss scene?! It was so, so passionate."
—Margaret Davidson, Facebook
59.Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in the entire Star Wars franchise
"It helped that you got to see the progression of their relationship over three films, but when they saw one another for the first time in who knows how long in The Force Awakens? It was heart-melting."
60.Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man (2008)
"OK, but what about these two?!"
61.Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in Speed (1994)
"Is no one going to mention the chemistry between them?! All that tension, whew!"
—Reshme Subramaniam, Facebook
62.Mandy Moore and Shane West in A Walk to Remember (2002)
"They even admitted to having crushes on each other, and are still close to this day!"
63.Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant in Notorious (1946)
"A classic."
64.Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone (1984)
"I still think they're the hottest onscreen couple I've ever seen."
—René Martinez Bohn, Facebook
65.Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser in The Mummy series
"Fight me."
66.Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney in Out of Sight (1998)
"There was a scene where they shared a glass of whiskey, and, my word, the sexual tension was palpable."
—Deborah Langner, Facebook
67.Emmy Rossum and Gerard Butler in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
"Soooooo steamy!"
—Mary Goodrich, Facebook
68.Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom in the Pirates of the Caribbean series
"How...HOW...could no one name these two? I know it's a Disney movie, but their chemistry was INCREDIBLE."
69.Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
"Without question!"
70.Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal (2009)
"This is probably a really strange answer to most people, but I loved them together."
—Ashley McConiga, Facebook
71.Winona Ryder and Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
"This should be number one on the list."
72.And finally: Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
"My all-time favorite onscreen chemistry will forever and always, hands down, be these two. A classic best-friends-turned-lovers story. Flawless and unbelievable chemistry. I think we’ll ALL have what they're having."
Well, you've read their picks, but now it's your turn! Do you agree with all of these? Do you disagree? If there were an Academy Award for "Best Onscreen Chemistry," who would you nominate? Share your pick(s) in the comments below!
Note: Some entries have been edited for length and/or clarity.
